Fishing Report

Limit:

Thursday, September 23rd, 2004

  • Shasta County, California
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      Water Temp: 70.6

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: went in at Jones Valley, not busy at all only followed two other rigs in, got my frst spook fish at 0710 and also the last one, tried some other stuff but no luck. Moved over into a large cove seeing if anything has started moving back in yet and find some fish fairly deep. Caught 3 more, 2 on a MGM HDI and also one on a twintail both in #23. The last was the biggest and barely broke 2 lbs at 2.08. The fish in the cove came out of 28-34 ft from 0830 to 0910. air temp going in was 59, lake at 97.6 ft down coming out we were up to 75 at 1030. lots of bassboats today all over the lower and middle Pit.
      City: Redding

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2004

  • Solano County, California
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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Got on the water around 9:00. Water was so calm there wasn't a ripple on it. Fished around sugar barge and caught six of my seven fish on speed trap. Caught my last fish in big break marina. Fishing was really tough with that calm water. Any suggestions would be great.
      City: Boraga

      Tips: What do you do when there is complete calm water?

  • Shasta County, California
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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Well Jerry- you can have that darn lake! Even after reading your reports for the last 3-4 months and a bunch of old ones from some other people we had a terrible TOC. We had a decent prefish- caught maybe 7 or 8 13" keepers each day incl. a 2lb 9oz. spot on a darthead Yamamoto twintail. But on the first day of the real thing
      all could manage to get were two small ones and a 2 lb.er to go with them. We only weighed 3 for 4.03 lbs.. We were the 115th boat out Friday but who cares- no one was on our first spot. On Saturday we got to be the first boat out- of course a third of the teams had already gone home. We got to our 1st spot again and ripped a 12 1/2" spot in the first few casts. We boated our next too small fish about 1 PM. As a matter of fact we found a nice point with an island near it and some mudline for the bass to hide in. But again all the 4 or 5 we boated were small- man were we getting frustrated! Finally we decided to take a ride all the way up .... the McCloud arm. There was barely a trickle of water coming in- barely enough to stir up some silt. And a non-tourney boat fishing there to boot. We fished our way out but couldn't hook up with any keepers. I just read my WON bass newspaper and it sounds like we picked the wrong arm to go to! The winner supposedly fished the mouth of the Pit arm with reaction baits in the good current. I wish they didn't have the 4 month layoff between our last regular tourney and the TOC. We had our two best finishes at the last 2 regular tourneys we went to. We would have had a much better time if the lake was at the early to mid June levels. Congrats to Skandy and Max for going out Saturday and getting 3 more fish on a tough day. How's about a report Skandy? Another weird thing- the gal at the weigh in table that writes your weigh slip wrote 5 fish. I had her correct it but she only fixed our copy- her's still said 5 not 3 like we actually got. Like it matters now but.... what the heck. Scott and Tom- first last year at a real lake (With water in it and everything) and 3rd this year- you are the men! Talk about versatile- that dead one hurt though. Good work and thanks to all the people we met- sitting around the table swapping fish stories over dinner was a real treat. Especially with the caliber of all the guys that were invited- you don't get there on accident! Take care and look for some reports on the Oregon lake pages. I'm moving there shortly and can't wait to get some fishin' time in.
      City: napa

      Tips: Ask the top 5 teams if they'll tell you. Not one of our fish cams shallower than 10-12' deep. And learn how to pop 'em- a lot of deep fish were caught and some people don't know how.

    • By

      Water Temp: 69.7-70.9

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: In at cemtimudi at 0625, air temp 63, lake down to 97.1 ft and only one lane available, the gravel and mud cover the 2nd lane(farthest away from the float) and there is a bit of a gravel/mud hump in the first lane, if you drive a smaller truck or are towing something heavy then u might want to avoid this ramp as getting out without 4 wheel drive could be a problem, ran over into the big backbone mouth and started throwing a spook at 0642 and caught 2 fish quickly and both small, had one other at 0700 that was maybe a 1.5. continued for 30 minutes without any hits so picked up the jig rod wearing a HDI(hoo-dun-it) in #23 and managed only 3 more till 0950. The biggest was a 1.76 NOt a lot of traffic this am, maybe 5 bassboats and three trout trollers. Watched a guy out in front of the ramp near the dam as I came in and he had a rod bent double and ended up netting what looked to be a 5+ trout or salmon, nice fish. out at 1000. Wind was up pretty good early at 15 but died to 5 when I got out.
      City: Redding

      Tips: the few I saw bass fishing were dropshotting in the 30ft range which is where I caught the jig fish, the early spook fish were right on the bank. used a trout looking spook.

Tuesday, September 21st, 2004

  • Amador County, California
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      Water Temp: 74-70

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Well, the weather.com guys had it backwards. It was supposed to be windy and then calm down later in the night. It did the opposite. I fished from 5:30 pm till 2:30 am. It was dead calm, almost glass for the first couple of hours and then gradually got windier until I decided to leave at 2:30 am. Fish were busting the surface all over the lake. Right off the bat got a 2 pounder on a senko just outside a weedline on a major lake point. Then, because I was looking for bigger fish, switched to other baits and didn't get bit again until 1/2 hour after sunset when I picked up about 6 fish on the crankbait (4.3, 3.7, 2.5, 2, 2, 1.5) had another 3+ and another 4+ on for awhile but they got off. The bite died until about 10 to 11 pm. Then it was the same old senko bite - agressive 1.5 - 2.5 pounders and I picked up about 5 fish doing this. Finally left because the senko was the only thing they were biting and it was too windy to do that effectively (wind from the north and east at the same time!). Didn't want to sit around in the wind for 6 more hours until the (probably very good) crankbait bite, so I left. At least one very large fish was busting the surface about 45 minutes after dark but it's hard to target fish in open water and you can't see their boil very well. Plus, what would you throw? The fish were very healthy looking and fought very hard.
      City: Folsom

      Tips: If you throw crankbaits: 1) you have to cast right up in or very close to the weeds, 2) casting to secondary points with wood stickups provided the best fish, 3) fish shallow water, 4) use braided line, otherwise when you cast and almost immediately get weeds on your bait, you can give it a sharp enough jerk to get the weeds off it for the remainder of the retrieve. Most fish hit right when the crankbait was being ripped out of the weeds. Go tonight (Wednesday the 22nd)! It should be better because of the continued warming trend and more stable weather. Also, consider fishing the dusk and dawn bites and sleeping in between the two - the night bite is just not very good. It seems that when the last trace of sunlight ends, the baitfish disappear and so does the bite. Maybe the full moon next Monday will improve the night bite.

  • Sacramento County, California
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      Water Temp: 68-72 deg

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Well it has been two weeks sense I've been on Folsom lake and the water has droped some, the boat ramp is in 6-8.5 ft of water. The temp has droped off to 68-72 and the days are cooler now, along with the sun going down early. Jim Ryan, Quency Malone and I started out at the wind sock area in 20-35 ft using brown/tan jigs, lizards and worms picking up two dinks. now its time to go north into the 5 mph zone and work around Anderson island, no fish. Did all the fish go out the dam door into the american river, where did they go ????? We did find some more around the big rocks in 25-35 ft. The lake is very nice at this time of the year, I think they should leave the bouys were they are and this will give us more fishing area and no lake lice problems. Today was one of those days you just make the best of it.
      City: rocklin

      Tips: drop shot, slow and on big rocks and maybe in the main body.

  • Shasta County, California
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      Water Temp: 27-80

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: went out friday evening in my dads old duck boat(bass boats in the shop)launched a brandy creek and went back in the arm, started throwing tiny rapalas and yozuries pin minnow series,the tiny ones in rainbow and tiger stripe patterns. hooked up with the first bass at aroun 6:30 around some sticks, not a bad one for this time of year around 1 1/12 pounds. caught a few more smaller ones before dusk on rapallas. at dusk had a huge blow up in the same area as the first fish i caught, but it snapped the line quickly, i was using 4 pound berkly vanish on a microrod,(fun for little fish) went in at dark.
      City: redding

      Tips: water is supper clear stay low in the boat and work the topwater slow and around cover.

Monday, September 20th, 2004

  • Santa Clara County, California
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      Water Temp: 70-73

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Went to calero on Saturday in out float tubes. Started out in the south end at around 630, third cast of the day on a top water i get slammed by a six pounder. No more topwater for the rest of the day all the rest of my fish on finness jigs with a pork trailer, black and red skirt, black trailer. Fished the rocky banks and cliffs of the west side of the lake. Constantly catching fish from 1.5 to 5 pounds. It was a little windy but definatly bearable. Ended up catching 3 1.5-2 pound fish, two three pounders, one 4, one 5, and one 6 pounder. Ended catching eight fish with a combined weight of about 27-28 pounds. Best day fishing out there i have had. Now im just looking for that ellusive 10 pounder, that'll be the icin' in the cake!!!!!
      City: San Jose

      Tips: keep all of your retrieves really irratic. Mostly all of the bites i had were when i popped the jig out of some rocks or cover. Caught that six pounder on the topwater, when i just began to reel it back in. Any sudden change in pase will get em' to strike. Good luck, have fun!!!

  • California
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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Can someone inform me on how to fish Coyote with the swimbaits such as the castaics or the ospreys. Like what time of year and where on the lake. Also what kind of gear do i need to throw those big baits? thanks alot greg
      City: San Jose

  • Shasta County, California
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      Water Temp: 70.2-71.9

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Jones Valley has quieted down, most have gone, a lot of cars still near the resort but only about 10 trucks left near the ramp, plenty of parking available now. got in at 0625, air temp 58 with a 6 knot wind out of the northeast, lake is nearing 97ft down, light rain most of the day yesterday cooled the lake off a bit, ran over into the lower pit to try some worm fishing on some flats and underwater humps for 6 and all small, 4 were smallmouth and I ain't much of a worm fisherman, threw a jig a few times on some fish I found and got my best with it at 1.8 and went on home. out at 1010, air temp 63 and the wind died down. 4 of the fish came on the MGM #109 4 inch, 2 came on a rainbow worm companys #99 in a 5 inch snake, the better(if u can call a 1.5 better) came on the #99.
      City: Redding

Sunday, September 19th, 2004

  • Santa Barbara County, California
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      Water Temp: 60-70

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I caught most of my fish on the nothern end of the lake were the water is alot more clear. I used buzz baits yellow and black. I caught 6 fish totaling about 15 pounds. Later in the day i used plastic worms at about 10 feet of water. The lake is extremely low now. Be very careful when lanching.
      City: Santa Maria Ca

      Tips: a good spot to fish now is right out of the marina. The water is alot clear and buzz baits work extemely well.

  • Lake County, California
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      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the Anglers choice pro/am this weekend for the first time, Finished 9th with a weight of over 34lbs for 2 days, covered a lot of water in the wind, that made for quite a ride with my Pros( spent more time in the air than on the water lol)
      caught quite a few fish in the 2-4 lb range with my pro catching a 7 lb hog on Fri lots of big fish weighted in on Sat, Am weight in one over 9lbs. Would like to thank the Pro I fished with Brian and Ron you guys were great and hope to fish with you again!
      City: Alameda

      Tips: Drop shot and jigs that's all I'm saying

  • Sacramento County, California
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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Been waiting for these type of conditions in September for 17 years. Had an epic buzzbait bite back then in similar conditions. Went out today and through my trusty buzzbait, Nada. Tried a Rat'l trap and jig, Nada. I think it was a warm front back in the late 80's. Today was windy, cold and a bit wet. Oh well.
      City: Folsom

    • By

      Water Temp: 73 Degrees

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I have gone out twice in the last week and have only managed a single fish on each trip and both were small. I have tried almost everything and both fish came on top water early morning in the south fork. I have fished every water depth with very little success and am beginning to question my decisions. I am losing my confindence in my decision making. I have fished top water,fished w/jigs, crankbaits, jerk baits and worms but nothing bites. I am new to the area and have only fished Folsom about a 5 or 6 times now. Can someone PLEASE HELP?

      Tx,
      Bobby
      City: El Dorado Hills

      Tips: Don't ask me!

  • California
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      Water Temp: N/A

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Tough day at Lexington. Condition looked very good but it seemed like the fish just disappeared. Fished the Highway 17, Halipad, and rocky shore on the east side. Not a single bite from 2PM till 5PM. On the way back, stated graphing some fish in 24 feet of water. Got 5 bites on brush hog but lost all during the fight. Probabley it was not my day. Finally picked up two dinks on dropshot. Called it a day at 6PM.
      City: Palo Alto

  • Mariposa County, California
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      Water Temp: 75

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: WHAT A TRIP /RAIN,HAIL,WIND,LIGHTNING YOU NAME IT.HELL WE EVEN CAUGHT SOME FISH . FISH WERE SHALLOW AND BITTING LIGHTLY. THEY WEREN'T TOO PICKEY WHAT EVER YOU THREW THEY LIKED.MY BOY EVEN CAGHT A TROUT ON A CRAWDAD OF ALL THING'S OVER IN COTTONWOOD. THAT SEEM TO BE THE SPOT WITH NO RAIN .LOT'S OF BITE'S TOO, THEY REALLY LIKE ALL THE TIMBER IN THEIR RIGHT NOW.
      City: turlock

      Tips: FISH SLOOWWWWWWWWWLLLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

  • Monterey County, California
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      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Pre-fished on Fri and Sat for a club tourney on Sunday. Didn't get a keeper on Friday and not a bite on Sat. Tried everything. Was my 1st time here. There was another tourney Sat and just about every arewa had a boat on it. Sundays tourneys are always fishing 'used' water. Sun I started out on the East side of the lake on the cliffs and caught two, a black and a smallmouth. No reaction bite even though a lot of fish were rising to the surface. Went on main lake points and ended up culling three. Largest was a 4.65 black and 14.26 lbs total to take 1st place. Only two limits were brought in.
      City: Fresno

      Tips: use a dropshot on wind blown points

  • Shasta County, California
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      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Mr. Pig Pen, should you like you should feel free to contact me regarding your post. If I am not there, leave a message. MGM is getting $20 for a 50 pack of hoo-dun-its, he gets $5 for a 10 pack so I buy in bulk. Go ahead, take the plunge. (530)244-0865. Should my daughter answer, try no to use any profanity until I get on the phone.
      City: Redding

    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: ah yes, another anonymous poster, just love you idiots but what the heck, here is my "no reponse needed" response.
      You might want to go back to 1999 or so and start reading my previous posts. I have used MGM products for years. I notice you didn't say anything when I was talking about Yamamoto products, Rainbow worm products, Mothers Finest products, Lucky craft products and so on. I report on what I use when it is effective. I seldom report on things that didn't work for me because I know that they will sooner or later. I do not work for MGM, I pay for my baits just like everyone else does. I know the past owner and I know the current owner and only about 400 other people who fish up here. If you are unable to catch fish here on Shasta, just let me know and I will take you out and show you how I do it. Then again you probably don't or won't put your name out there because you don't have the wherewithal or intestinal fortitiude to identify yourself. Mr Kaufman, thank you for your kind remarks.
      City: Redding

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: I know for sure, MGM, does not pay me any money, but I have been catching lot's of fish with thier
      product/s. And now the new Hoo Dun-it has been good also. Like the Green melon and dark Root beer
      in worms and double tail grubs, either alone or as
      a trailer on jig. The new owners have added some colors that John did not have and are trying to make a good product. Now you can either buy them
      or not, free choice, Mr. Pen. I know I will, along with Yamamoto baits and am satisfied with both products. I even buy a few Robo products. Like all of us, Jerry, is free to buy, talk obout
      any product he desires, there still is free speech
      and a few rights available in this country. Bill K
      City: Susanville